[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Jun/2020]
I was speaking to God about wanting to be surrendered and bold enough to share what he is saying to me. As I was praying, I saw a big electric table lamp. God showed me the different elements of the lamp -the socket that it is plugged into, the cable between the socket and the lamp, and the lamp itself. And then he showed me that, as we draw close to him, listening for what is on his heart for ourselves, our church, our world and different situations, we are like the table lamp. He is the power source (the socket in the picture) and we are the conduit between heaven and earth (the electric cable), through which the Holy Spirit moves as he fills us. As we receive from God, and then share that with others, so our light shines brightly (the table lamp in the picture). It’s a lovely big, bright lamp and it is needed to shine God’s heart around to others.
And then he showed me that for some, they are that lamp, but they have a dimmer switch on their lamp, which is preventing their lamp from shining. The dimmer switch represented all sorts of things -fear of what others may think, fear of looking silly, traditions that have told us to be quiet and reserved, a culture which shouts “it’s not the done thing”, and probably many other things that hold us back from being all God has made us to be.
I believe God is saying that he wants to remove those dimmer switches, that now is the time to shine, not to hide away, to ‘Rise Up’and show who we are and whose we are. Whether it was because I was showering at the time, I don’t know (God often speaks to me then!), but I had a sense that God wants to shower us, to wash off all those fears and things that prevent us from being all that he designed us to be, those things that prevent our lamps from shining brightly.
This is not so that we can be seen, but so that God can be seen. An electric cable does not need to be seen to make the lamp shine brightly.
If this resonates at all with anyone, if there is a flicker of a tiny spark, then I believe God wants to fan that spark into a big flame. And we are to carry that flame for all to see -like those who carry the flame to open the Olympic Games. The flame is big, bright and held high. It is passed from one to another, to another, and so on. It brings light, it en-courages each other, and cheers each one on to win the race, and it marks us out as God’s!
Matthew 5:14-16 says
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Father, help us to give you those things that hold us back from being all that you made us for. Help us to shine Your light in us brightly, so that others will be encouraged, and You will be glorified. Amen.
God Bless!
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Contributed by Lesley Edwards; © the Author
